[Cal.]

Formula 1 grid girls have been told to leave motor sports, but they're making one last stand on social media.

Just a few days after the Professional Darts Corporation banned its walk-on girls, Formula 1 followed the same path by banning the use of promo models, commonly called grid girls, commencing with the start of the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.

The role of grid girls is to conduct promotional tasks on behalf of blue chip sponsors. They wear clothing bearing the name of the sponsor, interact with the crowd, and carry driver name boards on the grid.

In a short statement on the Formula 1 website on Wednesday, commercial operations director Sean Bratches said the custom of using grid girls "does not resonate with [the] brand values [of F1] and clearly is at odds with modern day societal norms."

"We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world," he added.

Now, the women who have been left out of work as a result are fighting back on social media.

Rebecca Cooper, a five time F1 grid girl, said on Twitter that it is "ridiculous that women who say they are 'fighting for women's rights' are saying what others should and shouldn't do, stopping us from doing a job we love and are proud to do. [It is] political correctness gone mad."

Cooper also implied that grid girls have been misrepresented and put together a photograph collage to highlight that women who work in her trade are not "scantily clad furniture" and that the outfits are more modest.

For Michelle Westby, working as a promotional model in motorsports led to a successful career as a stunt driver and a drift racing driver.

On Facebook, Westby said:

"If it wasn't for grid work / promotional modelling, I wouldn't be where I am now in a 'male dominated' sport and job as a stunt driver and drift competition driver, inspiring and influencing females into this 'intimidating male environment.' I get girls messaging me all the time saying how I inspire them and made them want to get into racing and drifting when they didn't think they would be accepted… What people don't realise, is that the girls have knowledge of the products and teams they are promotion — that's part of the job. We get a brief on the uniform but it's up to us if we feel comfortable in it. We are more clothed than what teenagers wear down the supermarkets. I'm now retired but to think girls have lost a lot of important income because feminists think they know best, when they really haven't got a clue, is frustrating."

The Formula 1 season begins on March 26.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/f1-gri...18-2?r=US&IR=T

I think it's ridiculous. It's entirely up to the woman whether she pursues a job being a grid girl.

Thoughts?

[Tom4784]

It's quite dumb, they're essentially just cheerleaders for branding, they could just look at adding men to the practice if they are worried about being criticised for sexism or something.

Not a good enough reason to sack a bunch of people for.

[Niamh.]

As a woman I find it annoying and belittling and **** all to do with the sport, might not be so bad if they had both sexes in there but right now it's just more women playing the ornament role

[Cherie]

Was going to make a thread on this Cal

Having listened to both sides of the argument I think it's the woman's choice, apparently they do a lot behind the scenes as well and many of them are educated to degree level, no one should dictate who can do nor not do a job

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

As a woman I find it annoying and belittling and **** all to do with the sport, might not be so bad if they had both sexes in there but right now it's just more women playing the ornament role

Apparently they have tried to recruit men as card carriers in boxing and no one is interested!

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

As a woman I find it annoying and belittling and **** all to do with the sport, might not be so bad if they had both sexes in there but right now it's just more women playing the ornament role

I have to agree with this tbh.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I have to agree with this tbh.

It's basically males making females redundant, they aren't utilising them elsewhere, they are now out of work

[Cal.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Was going to make a thread on this Cal

Having listened to both sides of the argument I think it's the woman's choice, apparently they do a lot behind the scenes as well and many of them are educated to degree level, no one should dictate who can do nor not do a job

Exactly. These are usually very driven girls who are extremely savvy in terms of business and money etc. It's such a shame they've had to lose their jobs because outside parties have campaigned for it as 'feminists'. What is feminist about making a load of successful women unemployed?

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Cal.

Exactly. These are usually very driven girls who are extremely savvy in terms of business and money etc. It's such a shame they've had to lose their jobs because outside parties have campaigned for it as 'feminists'. What is feminist about making a load of successful women unemployed?

I think its more about stopping women being seen as pieces of meat, tbh. And if we are honest, thats what these girls were to most viewers. Just some thing pretty to look at.

I can see a lot of men being up in arms about this and trying to make out its because they are concerned that these women have no job now, when its really they are pissed that they cannot perv anymore. (Not saying thats what you are worried about btw...but so many men have sudden apparently feminist views when stuff like this happens )

[LeatherTrumpet]

No. Pictures?

[Cal.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I think its more about stopping women being seen as pieces of meat, tbh. And if we are honest, thats what these girls were to most viewers. Just some thing pretty to look at.

I can see a lot of men being up in arms about this and trying to make out its because they are concerned that these women have no job now, when its really they are pissed that they cannot perv anymore. (Not saying thats what you are worried about btw...but so many men have sudden apparently feminist views when stuff like this happens )

Did you just mis sexuality me?

I AM A REAL GAY, OK?

[Cal.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

No. Pictures?

A grid girl shows off some of the outfits she's worn over the years.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I think its more about stopping women being seen as pieces of meat, tbh. And if we are honest, thats what these girls were to most viewers. Just some thing pretty to look at.

I can see a lot of men being up in arms about this and trying to make out its because they are concerned that these women have no job now, when its really they are pissed that they cannot perv anymore. (Not saying thats what you are worried about btw...but so many men have sudden apparently feminist views when stuff like this happens )

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

No. Pictures?

Case Closed

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I think its more about stopping women being seen as pieces of meat, tbh. And if we are honest, thats what these girls were to most viewers. Just some thing pretty to look at.

I can see a lot of men being up in arms about this and trying to make out its because they are concerned that these women have no job now, when its really they are pissed that they cannot perv anymore. (Not saying thats what you are worried about btw...but so many men have sudden apparently feminist views when stuff like this happens )

I agree with this.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I think its more about stopping women being seen as pieces of meat, tbh. And if we are honest, thats what these girls were to most viewers. Just some thing pretty to look at.

I can see a lot of men being up in arms about this and trying to make out its because they are concerned that these women have no job now, when its really they are pissed that they cannot perv anymore. (Not saying thats what you are worried about btw...but so many men have sudden apparently feminist views when stuff like this happens )

But the women go into it willingly, if men want to see them as a piece of meat that's not the women's issue

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

But the women go into it willingly, if men want to see them as a piece of meat that's not their problem

The whole point of the job is to be seen as pieces of meat though, and this kind of view trickles down into society also.

I kind of have this (unpopular) opinion on the likes of lapdancing clubs too tbh. Yes, the girls may chose to go into it, but it has the wider implications of men thinking its fine to see women as something that can/should be bought and sold or are just there for men to drool over and grope. I do not think the jobs should be available, for them to chose to go into in the first place really. Honestly, I cannot see how the sexes can ever be equal with **** like this going on.

[Cal.]

Women draining men of cash just to drool over a natural naked body is kind of an iconic concept though.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Cal.

Women draining men of cash just to drool over a natural naked body is kind of an iconic concept though.

Well yes, I agree with this too

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Cal.

Women draining men of cash just to drool over a natural naked body is kind of an iconic concept though.

I probably would mind this do much if they were redeploying the ladies elsewhere, but they are just dismissing them

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I probably would mind this do much if they were redeploying the ladies elsewhere, but they are just dismissing them

Its only for like 1 day a year or something though isn't it? Its not like its a fulltime round the year job.

[smudgie]

Pathetic.

If the women want to flaunt their bodies it's up to them.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

The whole point of the job is to be seen as pieces of meat though, and this kind of view trickles down into society also.

I kind of have this (unpopular) opinion on the likes of lapdancing clubs too tbh. Yes, the girls may chose to go into it, but it has the wider implications of men thinking its fine to see women as something that can/should be bought and sold or are just there for men to drool over and grope. I do not think the jobs should be available, for them to chose to go into in the first place really. Honestly, I cannot see how the sexes can ever be equal with **** like this going on.

Exactly

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by smudgie

Pathetic.

If the women want to flaunt their bodies it's up to them.

No it shouldn't be, it has no place in a sport like F1 that I enjoy watching and my kids enjoy watching, I don't want my daughter looking at those girls thinking that women are there to amuse and decorate the place for men and equally I don't want my son thinking that about women either

[Alf]

Complain about a wage gap while at the same time fighting to take a wage packet of women.

Never mind, they can always sign on the rock and roll, and if they have any kids who need clothing and feeding, then so what.

[bitontheslide]

Any pictures I have seen have been pretty tasteful and not tasty ..... I think its an organisation using the anti sexist banner as a way of saving money which is pretty cynical